WOOD Magazine

INSPIRATION FOR WOODWORKING DESIGN IS ALL AROUND YOU. WHERE DO YOU FIND YOURS? My favorite writing professor in college equated ideas to tiny iron filings scattered throughout the world. They were easily overlooked or invisible to most people. It was our job to develop a magnetic way of viewing life—to recognize the deep ideas that could be found in every situation—from nation-shaping global events to an overheard conversation in a coffee shop—and relay them in a meaningful way. Inspiration, then, is a habit to be developed and regularly practiced rather than some rare lightning strike of providence to be yearned for—a honed skill, rather than lucky happenstance. The seasoned inspiration hunters know that those iron filings are, in fact, gold. And they should be hoarded like treasure. The same is true in woodworking.…

For the December 2024/January 2025 issue of WOOD® magazine—our 300th issue—we asked you to send a picture holding your earliest copy. Thank you, first, for proving that some people actually do read the editor’s letter. More important, thanks to the many of you who have been with us for a very long time. You’re why we do it. But whether you started with the first issue 40 years ago, issue 302 that you hold in your hands, or somewhere in between, we love having you along for the ride. Lucas Peters Editor-in-Chief I saw this first issue in the grocery store and I thought that this would be something that I would actually read. I have been a subscriber ever since. Alex Danko Centennial, Colorado The first publication I subscribed to was WOOD magazine. It helped…

Tap here to keep safety in mind when building a crib. SEND US A PHOTO OF YOUR WORK Want to see your work showcased in WOOD® magazine? Send a high-resolution digital photo of your completed project to woodmail@woodmagazine.com.…

Located just off the interstate midway between Colorado Springs and Denver, Walt Korinke’s 375 square foot shop resides in the last stall of a three-car garage. Standing in the workshop is like staring at a detailed illustration that reveals more the longer you look at it. Put another way, Walt would be a master at the video game Tetris to pack a complete workshop along two walls. Before taking over the space, Walt installed three 48×34" sliding windows and a passage door in the end wall. The windows flood the shop with natural light while the door provides easy passage to the house. Rough cedar siding lines the walls from the floor to the 10½’ ceiling. Walt prefers the wood’s warmth over painted drywall. The siding provides a solid surface for anchoring…

Q: I just added a drill press to my shop and wondered what kind of bits you recommend for woodworking? I have a small set of twist bits that came with my handheld drill. Are these good enough to use in a drill press? Glenn Hensel Battle Creek, Michigan A: While you can certainly use twist bits to drill holes in wood, Glenn, their geometry is designed primarily for drilling in metal. Better bit options designed specifically for wood exist. We recommend purchasing a set of brad-point bits first. These are the workhorse bits in our shop. A seven-piece set ranging from ⅛" to ½" in 1/16" increments will cover most everyday woodworking tasks. A small set comes at a reasonable price, so buy the best quality you can afford. They’ll be more accurate…

I have mostly benchtop tools that take up a lot of space. I devised these moving platforms to reclaim some of my worksurface when they are not in use. Each base resembles an upside-down drawer and rides on heavy-duty drawer slides. I simply pull one forward when I need to use it and slide it away when I’m finished. A caster under the top of each base provides additional stability when the tool is pulled forward. Willy Leichter Woodland, California BAND IT, BANDIT! I build a lot of small trays and boxes, and I used to struggle with keeping the mitered corners aligned during glue-up—until I gave up on clamps in favor of rubber bands. I stretch a pair of bands diagonally and others parallel to the tray sides. The combination draws the joints…